topic Medicare choices in Community Chat

Medicare choices

hoosieroriginal — Wed, 25 May 2016 21:12:40 GMT

I highly urge people who will be eligible for Medicare in the next few months to go to an insurance agent and have them go over your choices. I went today because all of the information I am getting in the mail was just so confusing. She took about an hour and explained all of my options. I now know what I will choose when it is time for me to apply. Don't wait till the last minute and rush into picking a plan that isn't good for you. I feel like I'm fully informed in my options.

Re: Medicare choices

Mz iMac — Wed, 25 May 2016 21:31:50 GMT

I became a member of the Medicare/Medicare Supplemental Club last summer. My mail box was flooded w/all the Medicare stuff which I promptly threw in the trash. Then this is what I did.....

Read the Medicare & You booklet that every one gets in the mail (when that time comes) & checked off all the health insurances I was interested in.

I called each one to have them mail me their policy info.

Once I received them all (3), I compared what they offered, their services, their premium fees, etc.

Then I selected the policy that fit my needs as well as if the premium payments was worth it.

If I didn't care for the 3 I picked out, I would have gone back to the booklet to pick out 3 more. Luckily my state has a list of 17 approved health providers allowed to do business in the state.

For me it wasn't confusing as each ins carrier was pretty straight forward in what they offered & what wasn't offered.

Of course you still need that magnifying glass to read all the small print.

Re: Medicare choices

deeva — Wed, 25 May 2016 21:32:08 GMT

DH did this before he turned 65, it was very helpful.

Re: Medicare choices

tucsongal — Wed, 25 May 2016 21:36:14 GMT

I would also recommend doing some research on your own first so you have a basic understanding of the options. An agent may be representing a specific company and could be biased. She/he will be making a commission.

Re: Medicare choices

Winkk — Wed, 25 May 2016 21:45:45 GMT

I agree, it can be very confusing. Just make sure you find someone who is neutral because you don't want someone that represents just one insurance company.

Re: Medicare choices

Hoovermom — Wed, 25 May 2016 21:52:32 GMT

@Mz iMac wrote:
I became a member of the Medicare/Medicare Supplemental Club last summer. My mail box was flooded w/all the Medicare stuff which I promptly threw in the trash. Then this is what I did.....

Read the Medicare & You booklet that every one gets in the mail (when that time comes) & checked off all the health insurances I was interested in.
I called each one to have them mail me their policy info.

Once I received them all (3), I compared what they offered, their services, their premium fees, etc.
Then I selected the policy that fit my needs as well as if the premium payments was worth it.

If I didn't care for the 3 I picked out, I would have gone back to the booklet to pick out 3 more. Luckily my state has a list of 17 approved health providers allowed to do business in the state.

For me it wasn't confusing as each ins carrier was pretty straight forward in what they offered & what wasn't offered.

Of course you still need that magnifying glass to read all the small print.

Where did this booklet come from? Thanks.

Re: Medicare choices

Caligurll — Wed, 25 May 2016 22:00:37 GMT

@Hoovermom wrote:
@Mz iMac wrote:
I became a member of the Medicare/Medicare Supplemental Club last summer. My mail box was flooded w/all the Medicare stuff which I promptly threw in the trash. Then this is what I did.....

Read the Medicare & You booklet that every one gets in the mail (when that time comes) & checked off all the health insurances I was interested in.
I called each one to have them mail me their policy info.

Once I received them all (3), I compared what they offered, their services, their premium fees, etc.
Then I selected the policy that fit my needs as well as if the premium payments was worth it.

If I didn't care for the 3 I picked out, I would have gone back to the booklet to pick out 3 more. Luckily my state has a list of 17 approved health providers allowed to do business in the state.

For me it wasn't confusing as each ins carrier was pretty straight forward in what they offered & what wasn't offered.

Of course you still need that magnifying glass to read all the small print.

Where did this booklet come from? Thanks.

@Hoovermom Medicare will send it to you right before you turn 65.

Re: Medicare choices

BlingQueen022 — Wed, 25 May 2016 22:02:51 GMT

When the time comes I won't have to investigate at all. With Federal Blue Cross I won't be paying a dime with Medicare on any patient responsibilities.

Re: Medicare choices

Mz iMac — Wed, 25 May 2016 22:07:27 GMT

@Hoovermom wrote:
@Mz iMac wrote:
I became a member of the Medicare/Medicare Supplemental Club last summer. My mail box was flooded w/all the Medicare stuff which I promptly threw in the trash. Then this is what I did.....

Read the Medicare & You booklet that every one gets in the mail (when that time comes) & checked off all the health insurances I was interested in.
I called each one to have them mail me their policy info.

Once I received them all (3), I compared what they offered, their services, their premium fees, etc.
Then I selected the policy that fit my needs as well as if the premium payments was worth it.

If I didn't care for the 3 I picked out, I would have gone back to the booklet to pick out 3 more. Luckily my state has a list of 17 approved health providers allowed to do business in the state.

For me it wasn't confusing as each ins carrier was pretty straight forward in what they offered & what wasn't offered.

Of course you still need that magnifying glass to read all the small print.

Where did this booklet come from? Thanks.

@Hoovermom

Directly from Medicare. The booklet is customized to YOU & the state you domicile in.

This year it's called Medicare & You 2016. If you do not have yours you can either call Medicare and/or go to their online site & order one. The booklet is free.

Re: Medicare choices

Hoovermom — Wed, 25 May 2016 22:10:56 GMT

@Caligurll and @Mz iMac - Thanks so much. My birthday is in two months and haven't received it yet. Will look online. Again, thanks!!!

Re: Medicare choices

151949 — Wed, 25 May 2016 22:15:44 GMT

We moved to Florida on July 3,2010 and Aug 1st started medicare. Plus DH had to switch his coverage from who he had in pa.within 30 days. We knew nothing about what to pick, and we are AARP members so I called them. They recommended an advantage plan for us so we signed up for it and then we started to go to town hall meetings and online medicare meetings to learn what we wanted to do in the future. When we got our medicare and you book we examined it carefully and in the end we stayed with the advantage plan we had originally signed on with.When I went in the hospital for knee surgery the clerk in the office who took my info said that about 75% of the medicare patients she signs in have the same insurance we do.

While any and all insurance companies or medicare can frustrate one on occasion we generally have been satisfied with our coverage. This year we changed to the HMO from the PPO because they ofered some things that were beneficial to us in the HMO. our advantage plan offers much better coverage than the insurance we paid a lot for from DH's company when he was still working.

Re: Medicare choices

hoosieroriginal — Wed, 25 May 2016 22:35:26 GMT

@tucsongal wrote:
I would also recommend doing some research on your own first so you have a basic understanding of the options. An agent may be representing a specific company and could be biased. She/he will be making a commission.

This agent knew I was just there to understand the Plans and the Parts (that's what was confusing to me) - I made no commitment to her - although I believe the cost is the same wherever you go.

Re: Medicare choices

Scooby Doo — Wed, 25 May 2016 22:46:29 GMT

@BlingQueen022 wrote:
When the time comes I won't have to investigate at all. With Federal Blue Cross I won't be paying a dime with Medicare on any patient responsibilities.

That's what I thought too, but not entirely true. Neither will pay for certain blood tests (i.e., vitamin D test). That cost me $92 out of pocket. Medicare didn't pay for my pneumonia shot and I'm still waiting to see if BC will pay. Although most will be paid, you still need to be informed.

Re: Medicare choices

Hoovermom — Wed, 25 May 2016 22:49:03 GMT

I am on DH's insurance plan with his job so need to find out what happens there. I don't have all of the answers yet but am starting to get a little anxious as I know you have to choose now or face penalties in the future. DH plans on working in the years to come as I am older than he is. Thanks for all the information.

On a side note I have been in denial of this birthday and am struggling to think I am going to go on Medicare. Time flies by, doesn't it.

Re: Medicare choices

Mz iMac — Wed, 25 May 2016 23:06:51 GMT

@Hoovermom wrote:

On a side note I have been in denial of this birthday and am struggling to think I am going to go on Medicare. Time flies by, doesn't it.

Ever since I got my AARP card in my 50th year, every time I step into a place of business, the first words out of my mouth are, "Do you have AARP and/or senior discounts?" You would be amazed at the places that have them UNADVERTISED.

Re: Medicare choices

Ms X — Wed, 25 May 2016 23:09:21 GMT

@Scooby Doo wrote:
@BlingQueen022 wrote:
When the time comes I won't have to investigate at all. With Federal Blue Cross I won't be paying a dime with Medicare on any patient responsibilities.
That's what I thought too, but not entirely true. Neither will pay for certain blood tests (i.e., vitamin D test). That cost me $92 out of pocket. Medicare didn't pay for my pneumonia shot and I'm still waiting to see if BC will pay. Although most will be paid, you still need to be informed.

I have Blue Cross that I buy on my own. They excluded payment for a vitamin D test at my yearly physical. I was surprised, so I called them and they said they'd cover it. You might want to give them a call.